Last week, the Minnesota Vikings informed running back Alexander Mattison that he will be released from the team. He was drafted to the Vikings in the 2019 NFL draft and then played back-up to Dalvin Cook for four years. Mattison averaged 488 rushing yards per season as back-up. This past 2023 season was finally his turn to take his place as RB1 as Cook departed the team and went to the New York Jets. Mattison rushed for a measly average of 700 yards on the year, indicating the Vikings struggled with the run game without Cook. Toward the end of the season, the team turned the reins over to running back Ty Chandler, giving him the bulk of the carries. Chandler averaged 461 rushing yards on the 2023 season. In the last two games he started, Chandler averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In comparison, Mattison averaged just 3.9 yards per carry over the whole season. Consequently, this release of Mattison suggests the team is confident with Chandler going forward.
Will the Vikings team also look to draft a running back from the upcoming draft class? The team has nine picks in total for the 2024 NFL Draft. Depending on the future of quarterback Kirk Cousins, the team may also key on drafting a quarterback early.
The Minnesota Vikings releasing RB Alexander Mattison is just one piece of the moves coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be making this offseason. Time will tell if the team is going in total rebuild mode, or if the Vikings plan to contend in 2024.
